Katie “Marie” Perry Berry, also known as Meme, was born the first of 6 children to Jessie Perry Binford in San Antonio, Texas on June 28, 1922 and departed for her Heavenly home on Monday morning, November 19, 2018 to collect the jewels in her crown at the age of 96. Marie grew up in Navasota, Tx until she moved to Luling to live with family as a young teen. On February 24, 1944 she married her husband, Richard E. Berry, also known as Boppa, who had 2 daughters and they went on to have 4 children together. After moving around due to her husband being in the Navy and his following career, they settled down in Houston, Texas until retiring to Lake Livingston in 1969. This became the heart of the family as it's where she helped to raise some of her grandchildren and even a few of her great grandchildren. Marie loved working in her yard, cooking for family get togethers (organized chaos), making the kids pick their own switches, playing cards or bingo and made the best butter & sugar sandwiches ever. She “got tired of working for free” (keeping grands) so she went to work at Walmart #275 in 1979. She started out as the Pet Dept. Manager and ended her 30+ year run as the “little white headed lady at the fitting room on the phones” also known affectionately by many of her coworker friends as “Katie the cleaning lady” (she hated being called Katie & was not the cleaning lady). After retiring, Marie enjoyed spending her time taking road trips visiting people she loved, getting her nails & toes done (even though she hated her feet being touched, the pretty toes were worth it), eating Mexican food & fried chicken and hanging out with her best friend, Missy the Schnauzer. Meme loved the outdoors and everything about it from the hummingbirds to the breeze & spent as much time as possible outside, but also loved sitting in her recliner at the glass door keeping tabs on everyone's comings and goings in the “Berry Patch”. She watched Dr. Charles Stanley in the mornings, Duck Dynasty in the evenings and could win any cat calling contest she entered (Here, kittykittykittykitty). She enjoyed sipping on the occasional Jamaican Me Happy wine cooler and was an avid animal lover of all kinds. She was a devoted supporter of the SPCA, as well as St. Judes and the Shriners Hospital. She loved to shop at WalMart where a 30 minute list could take half the day to collect due to all the “catching up” to be done while she was there. She was full of life, love and laughter and illuminated the world with her smile. She was a loving Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and blessed to live long enough to be a Great Great Grandmother of 7. Meme was expecting the arrival of her first Great-Great-Great Grandchild in May 2019, as well. Marie passed away peacefully in her home of 49 years surrounded by family and wrapped in the love that was taught by her example. She wasn't just a Meme, she was a way of life for us all and will be missed beyond measure. Marie was preceded in death by her Husband of 51 years, Richard “Dick” Berry, her Mother, Jessie Perry Binford and siblings, Georgia Jameson and Jack “Baby Brother” Perry. She is survived by a large family including her children; Beth Straily & husband Rick of Livingston, Tx, Ronald E. (Sonny) Berry & wife, Kathy of Pearland, Tx, Kathy Parker & husband, James of Livingston, Tx, Cheryl Carter & husband, Craig of Tomball, Tx and step daughters, Norma Holley of Houston, Tx and Reba Baisden & husband Jim, of Grapevine, Tx. Her 14 Grandchildren; Roxanna Harris Light, Keisha “Kissy” Carter Myers, Clint Hilzendager, Cortney Berry Ainsworth, Natalie Carter Meeks, Jamie Parker Lindstrom, Wade Carter, Michael Ryan, Kelly Ryan, Julie Ryan Odenthal, Russell “Rusty” & Randy Goodrum and Steven & Wayne Holley. Her 20 Great Grands; Jason & Elissa Harris, Slade, Mason & Zane Kellum, Anzlie & Madison Hilzendager, Ryanne & Jordyn Lindstrom, Carter & Creek Meeks, Hayden Oberg, Asher & Jaxson Ainsworth, Rebecca & Alanna Ryan, Eric & Tori Ryan, Justin Kendrick & Nathan Taft. Her 7 Great- Great Grands; Brodie Smith, Dawson Harris, Adalyn Harris, Zoie Cochran, Asa Harris, Bradley Taft and Sophie Kellum. She is also survived by her siblings, BJ & husband, Johnny Pitts, Joyce Ann & husband, Vernon Hensarling, and Red Binford & wife Leah: sister-in-law, Sammie Perry; along with her faithful best buddy, Missy, and some very special nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends. There is no better way to honor her than with lots of love and laughter, so please join her family in celebrating her life and If you have a memory or story to share, please come prepared to do so. Her Memorial service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at Pace Funeral Home located in Livingston, Texas.
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